ANAHEIM, CALIF. — In a span of three days, captain Henrik Zetterberg became a point-a-game performer in the Red Wings’ first-round series against the Ducks. Of course he did.

Teammates have high expectations of Zetterberg, because he has been a superstar for so long. He is coming off a three-point outing headed into tonight’s Game 7 at Honda Center, contributing two goals Friday, including the game-winner, to stave off elimination and tie the series, 3-3.

The goals were Zetterberg’s first of the 2013 playoffs. Since entering the NHL in 2002, he has scored at least one goal in every playoff series he has played — which is 20 (he missed the 2011 series against Phoenix because of a knee injury).

“He brings it every night,” Niklas Kronwall said. “He’s one of the best players in the league, and whether he scores or he sets up some of the other guys up, he’s one of our best players, if not the best player on the ice every night.”

Zetterberg’s two goals Friday put his playoff total at 53, one short of tying former Wings great Nicklas Lidstrom for third place in club history.

It’s not unusual for star players to take a few games to start producing; the Ducks got only the second point out of Corey Perry in Game 6. Coach Mike Babcock said of Zetterberg that, “he’s been good all series. The longer you play the better chance you have to be yourself, point-wise.”

Zetterberg does so much, including kill penalties, that hisworth is measured in more than points. But points add up to win games, and Zetterberg conceded he was happy to see the puck finally sink into Anaheim’s net.

“That’s what you hope for,” he said. “ I play a lot of minutes, play a lot of power play, play with great players, so if you keep doing good things, eventually it will come. You just overshoot a little bit more, maybe, and eventually with the bounce will be with you.”

Zetterberg had two assists in Game 5, after being limited to one assist the first four games.